Just 16 miles from Aberdeen lays a small yet charming village. With a medieval castle, Victorian rooms, and home to just 4000 residents, Kemnay is an idyllic rural retreat. With picturesque landscapes and the nearby hiking routes of Bennachie, it is the perfect destination for a countryside escape.
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A warm Scottish welcome in the North East countryside
Pack up your walking boots and waterproofs, grab the family – don’t forget the binoculars – and head to Kemnay. After a day enjoying the splendours of the rolling hills and deep valleys of Aberdeenshire, you probably have worked up an appetite. Head down to Kemnay’s hidden gem, the Bennachie Lodge Hotel & Restaurant, just a short walk from the Bennachie hills.
With an easily accessible location just off the main road and only 15 minutes from Aberdeen airport, Bennachie Lodge Hotel & Restaurant is a hidden gem restaurant in Kemnay. A popular destination for locals and pitstop for cyclists and car clubs, the Bennachie Lodge Hotel & Restaurant greets you with a warm Scottish welcome.
Modern comfort meets traditional charm in this restaurant in Kemnay
With a history dating back to the time of the reformation in 1560 when the Bishop of Aberdeen had passed it suitable for needs of the Parish, Bennachie is rich with character. A new Mance was built in 1796 and with further extensions over the years it was eventually disposed of and converted into the Bennachie Lodge Hotel in 1976.
From the moment you step into the wooden-beamed dining room, you will be greeted with the restaurant’s traditional charm. Sat beneath glass chandeliers, you can admire the gold framed artwork and settle in to the cosy ambiance of this Kemnay restaurant with highland flair.
New owners Roy Duncan and Danny Mussard have taken over in May 2022 and since then, have overseen upgrades like adding outdoor igloos during the winter months – perfect for enjoying the large garden while still staying warm.
Roy and Danny have a long-standing passion in the food industry and over 40 years of experience. Roy is a classically trained Chef who was runner up in a tv chef competition and worked with a number of celebrity chefs including Nick Nairn.
Perhaps you’re looking for a quiet countryside retreat to reconnect with your loved one, or maybe you’ve just finished a brisk castle walk and are seeking out the perfect Sunday roast. Does an elegant afternoon tea with delicious sandwiches, cakes, and perfectly brewed tea or coffee peak your interest?
At Bennachie Lodge Hotel & Restaurant, you will find modern comforts perfectly complimented with traditional tastes.
A place to meet and eat in Aberdeenshire
From pub classics to a la carte menus, you’re sure to find something delicious to whet your appetite at the Bennachie Lodge Hotel & Restaurant.
Check out the menu and see what’s cooking.
It boasts a 70-seater restaurant heavily focused on an amazing menu to include local steaks, fish, a newly added woodfired pizza oven as well as some delicious pub classics with a twist.
The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, teas and coffees all day.
The chefs at Bennachie Lodge combine modern flavours with traditional Scottish dishes. Treat yourself to the Signature Rib, made with Aberdeen Angus local black gold. Indeed, when dining at the Bennachie Lodge you will be treated to a taste of local providence. The kitchen aims to use local produce in their menu, from free-range eggs, to the finest local butcher’s cuts, to local wild-caught haddock. The fruit and vegetables on the menu are locally sourced, including Mony Musk strawberries, grown just a few miles down the road.
A tempting array of dishes on the menu will make your mouth water, from traditional steak pie and locally caught castle prawns. Fancy something a bit different? Why not try a healthy and vegetarian Katsu cauliflower steak? Feeling like an indulgence? Give in to the warm and tantalising flavours of a Bennachie Lodge and Hotel brioche bun burger, served with an onion ring and choice of fries.
When the sun is shining, be sure to enjoy a refreshing pint in the gorgeous beer garden, the largest in the north east of Scotland.
A Sunday Roast at the Bennachie Lodge Hotel & Restaurant is always a good idea. Enjoy a lazy sumptuous roast with crispy potatoes, seasonal vegetables and healthy lashes of gravy every Sunday from 12-8pm.
Book a table at Bennachie Lodge Hotel & Restaurant for your next meal.
Christmas is coming to Bennachie Lodge
It’s never too early to start thinking about the holidays! Throughout December, Bennachie Lodge Hotel & Restaurant is serving a Festive menu with either 2 or 3 courses. Christmas day is sure to be a spectacle with a special 4 course menu served. Get in the yuletide spirit with dishes like chestnut, smoked bacon and parsnip soup, Aberdeen Angus fillet Beef Wellington or traditional turkey with the trimmings, and traditional Christmas pudding.
Your next countryside getaway
Elegantly combining convenience with that countryside getaway feeling, the Bennachie Lodge Hotel & Restaurant is the perfect retreat after a day hiking, at the nearby Champion golf course, or fishing in the River Don.
After a long day out enjoying the striking landscape of this stunning region, return to your cosy room at the Bennachie Lodge. There are 8 rooms, including a family room for 4, twin rooms, double rooms, and even a bridal suite.
Book now for your next countryside getaway.
Opening hours in October and November ( 7 days in December) for lunch are Friday to Sunday 12 till 3 and open for dinner
